Rating: PG (just to be safe)
Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce's characters, not mine. However, the plot is.
Summary: Ever wonder what happened to Varice Kingsford after "Emperor Mage"? Well, here's my theory. She seemed really attached to Arram/Numair and I doubt she would have let him go so easily to some girl a lot younger then her. In this FanFic, Varice is seeking revenge on Daine.
Sorry to everyone who has been so adamently following this story. Really, I'm overjoyed! Sadly, I've had some work to do for school of late, but now I'm adding chapter 4. :) Hope you enjoy it! Please, check in often to see if I've written and more, and if you don't mind, drop a review. I love getting them! Sorry about these chapters not being so long!
Chapter 4: Back to Carthak
"ONUA!" Numair came running into the mess hall, eyes wild, hair torn out of its horse tail.
The Queen's Rider Trainees gaped at the respectable mage. His serenity was gone, replaced with the feeling of utter panic.
Buri stood up and grabbed him by the shoulders as he was about to shoot past. She shook him hard. "What's the matter, man? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"It's Daine!" he gasped. "She's in Carthak! I must go to her! She's in horrible danger, I can feel it!"
The female commander nodded. "Saddle a horse and ride to the sea this instant. There isn't a moment to spare. I'll alert their Majesties and the horsemistree of your wearabouts. Go!"
Without another word, the tall man bolted out of the mess hall at the same speed he came in.
"Goddess bless," Buri prayed to the retreating figure. She stood up straighter and went to find the King and Queen.
Many days later a hawk could be seen taking flight from the city Tyra. It carried a bundle in its talons. People with sharper eyes would later swear it was clothes. But that was silly. Large, black hawks never caried clothes.
The Great Inland sea was vast, much too far across for a single, exhausted bird to conquer in a single
flight. A man found this hawk curled up under some canvas, obviously exhausted. The kind-hearted fisherman left a few fish
by the birds side, then continued his work. When he came back a few hours later the food and bird was gone. He scratched
his head, but continued on with his work.
A grim faced mage surveyed Carthak. He noticed that the old palace was still in ruin, the hill swarming with rats. In the same glance he found the makings of a new one. Numair was the weariest he had ever been, yet he'd be damned if he was going to let that stop him. He staggered with exhaustion, but hardly noticed.
"I'm all used up for now," he whispered. Staying in hawk form for so long had used up most of his magical resources, so using the focus again to find Daine was out of the question. He would either have to rest or look the normal way.
Setting his jaw, Numair began walking towards the new palace. If Kaddar had begun to follow in the footsteps of his deceased uncle, then Gods help him, he would pay for taking Daine.
